The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating why a commercial aircraft was cleared for take-off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport while US President Donald Trump’s helicopter, Marine One, was approaching the airport, despite safety procedures introduced after last year’s deadly midair collision.The incident took place on Tuesday as Marine One carried Trump from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base for the first leg of his West Coast trip. Although officials said the aircraft were never on a collision course and the president was never in danger, the event has raised fresh questions about whether the stricter safety measures introduced after January 2025’s fatal crash are being properly followed.Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are gathering information about the incident. While the FAA has launched a preliminary investigation, the NTSB said it was still assessing the circumstances before deciding whether to open a separate probe.
What happened over Reagan National Airport
According to the FAA, the commercial jet took off as Marine One was approaching Reagan National Airport. The plane climbed above the presidential helicopter, meaning the two aircraft were moving apart rather than towards one another.Even so, the FAA said there was a “momentary loss of separation” between the aircraft. Air traffic controllers remained in contact with both the airline crew and the Marine One pilots throughout the incident.The agency has not explained why the commercial flight was authorised to depart while Marine One was inbound. The Wall Street Journal first reported the incident.The White House sought to reassure the public, saying Trump was never at risk. “Marine One flights are piloted by some of the best aviators in the world, and at no point was the President in harm’s way,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said.The US Marine Corps also rejected suggestions of a near miss. Spokesperson Capt. Jacob Sugg said there were no “close calls” and that controllers neither delayed nor altered the helicopter’s flight path, instead providing appropriate traffic information throughout the journey.
Why is the incident drawing scrutiny
The investigation comes just months after a catastrophic collision on 29 January 2025, when a passenger airliner and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Reagan National Airport, killing all 67 people aboard the two aircraft.Following that disaster, the FAA introduced stricter operating procedures for the airport’s notoriously congested airspace. The rules require all take-offs and landings to be suspended whenever helicopters travel along conflicting routes near the airport. Controllers are also required to use radar rather than visual separation, while military aircraft must continuously broadcast their locations.The latest incident has prompted renewed criticism from families of those killed in last year’s crash, who questioned whether enough has been been done to improve safety around Reagan National. The group has continued to urge Congress to adopt aviation safety reforms recommended by the NTSB.
